Hello, My name is Alex MacDonald, I am working on my Master's Thesis entitled "Decoration and Ornamention on Pigmented Vitrolite and Carrara Structrual Glass: Its Development, Applications, and Methods of Production, 1920-1950." Incase anyone is unfamiliar with Vitrolite or Carrara, basically it is an opaque colored glass tile used on storefronts and interiors. Sometimes these tiles were decorated by sand-blasting, painting, inlay, and etching. The decorated glass is my focus. What I am looking for are places where this still exists or any other information that anyone might have. Thank you for your time. Alex MacDonald

-- Alexander MacDonald (almac1@hotmail.com), September 24, 2000

Answers

I have a bathroom that is completely etched and painted on the walls and ceiling. Let me know if I can help.

-- Mike Petry (michael_petry@storagetek.com), September 28, 2001.

Thank you for responding to my e-mail, your thesis sounds interesting - good luck! My bathroom has a black kickboard with green tiles above and a black picture rail all in vitrolite from floor to ceiling. They are fixed to the wall "brick style", pictures any use to you?

-- Adam2Eve (radamson63@yahoo.com), October 06, 2001.

I have a kitchen in robin egg blue and navy blue vitrolite that was put in brick sytle from wall to ceiling. My upstairs bathroom is layed in the same style and is black and gray.

-- Teresa Kauffman (teresakauffman@hotmail.com), December 30, 2001.

I own a building that houses a bar/restaurant that has a pink and burgundy carrera glass facade. I'm trying to locate salvaged carrera glass to fix several broken panels. If anyone knows if anyone still makes this material or has access to any, please contact me. thanks.

-- T.H. Lyda (thlyda@bwhllc.com), January 18, 2002.

try looking up the Manchester Daily Express Building by Owen Williams if you need a large scale example of its use.

-- J. A. Benoit (andre.benoit@utoronto.ca), March 27, 2002.

there is a seller called MR. Vitrolite in the USA; has his own website;

-- robin grow (robingrow@ozemail.com.au), April 20, 2002.

I have a kitchen walls and ceiling all white with black strip trim and small red tiangles, in addition, the bathroom is all walls and ceiling black with pink trim...interested in selling if any buyers, thanks,steve

-- Steve Kehoe (stevek3952@aol.com), May 22, 2002.

I am the Vitrolite Specialist. I met Alex a couple of years ago. I have just finished restoring the Walt Theater in Neww Haven. Missouri. Lovely little 250 seat theater done in the late 40's. I'm also working on the Crump Theater in Columbus, Indiana. Does anyone know where I could find some quantities of Tropic Green or for that matter any color in large quantities. I am willing to buy or broker whatever you might have or can find. Thanks, Tim Dunn

-- Timothy Dunn (vitrolite@earthlink.net), August 12, 2002.

I recently removed hundreds of black kickboard and green vitrolite tiles from a bathroom circa 1928. I managed to remove 90% of them intact and have them stored. If you come across anyone who is looking for some feel free to pass my name along.

-- Greg Cooper (gcooper@ppg.com), September 16, 2002.

I have a bathroom in house built 1938 which is half-tiled with green vitrolite panels,with black trim. Some are cracked; I would quite like to consider the possibility of tiling the upper half of the room to match the lower section. I understand Vitrolite is no longer manufactured in the UK.

-- gordon williams (gordywillo@fsmail.net), May 25, 2003.

My husband and I recently purchased an old theatre with another couple. After removing the horrible aluminum facade, we were pleasantly surprised to find large carrera tiles and vintage glass block tiles. I'd like to know more about this glass but have no idea where to get info. Good luck with your work.

-- Karen Chapman (kchapman@chs-usa.com), June 03, 2004.

I have recently seen some recently refurbished restaurants in France which seem to have vitrolite ceilings. It seems to be suppled in big sheets and is often a deep red colour and very glossy. I have not sen it in any French diy shops and would be interested to find out more

-- Bill Holland (bill@newhebs.demon.co.uk), August 03, 2004.

I have large Black Carrera tiles I would like to sell if you know anybody that would be interested or if you know a place I could look?

-- Andrew Tanner (ufosa@nauticom.net), September 28, 2004.

I am also looking for these tiles. My sister-in-law and I were able to recover two pieces of the decorated tile off an old movie theater. These tiles were black. It is my understanding the first tiles were green. Have you found anyone who would be interested in selling this glass? I would be interested in buying it. Thank you.

-- Margaret Hale (haleoffice@netscope.net), November 06, 2004.